001: “I Hire So I Can Look Left”: Startup Team Building Without Losing Your Mind

In the inaugural episode of OnlyFounders, Anne and Matt dive deep into the chaos and clarity that comes with running multiple ventures. Anne opens up about juggling Fix & Form, a new productized service business, a workshop on brand + exit planning, two book projects, and her love for public speaking. Matt gets real about hiring Gen Z, startup scaling pains, and why being “too nice” can backfire. Together, they unpack how founders can balance cheap labor, emotional leadership, and delegation without losing their minds—or their margins. It’s raw, it’s relatable, and it’s exactly the stuff nobody else is saying out loud.

🚨 Stuff You’ll Want to Remember

• Cheap labor comes with emotional overhead—expect to invest time, not just money.
• Gen Z wants mentorship, not just management. Connection is currency.
• Productizing services sounds scalable until you realize it still demands human input.
• Hire based on curiosity, not just competence—let them question you from day one.
• “Visionary” founders need finishers—know your genius zone and outsource the rest.

💣 Sh*t Only Founders Say

• “Cheap labor is never really cheap. It costs you attention, energy, and emotional investment.” — Anne
• “If I still have to keep looking right, that hire’s already a problem.” — Matt
• “Don’t hire someone to follow your rules. Hire someone who asks better questions.” — Anne
• “I prefer people who say they’ll learn everything and quit in three years. That’s the growth mindset I want.” — Matt
• “Sit in the shit. That’s where the growth happens.” — Anne

💬 Lines That Slap

• “I want to hire someone curious enough to ask me 24 questions. That’s the test.” — Anne Gillaspie
• “I hire so I can look left. If I have to keep looking right, something’s wrong.” — Matt Lo
• “The cheaper the labor, the more expensive the emotional cost.” — Anne Gillaspie
• “Your first hire shouldn’t be a VA—it should be a chief of staff.” — Anne Gillaspie

📡 Where to Find Us

• Anne → Fix & Form - LinkedIn
• Matt → ChipBot - LinkedIn